The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-07-01
Familiar "Amerioanisms.'
FERENCEs IN THE COMMON
LANGUAGE.

Probably the most frequent question
which is put to an Englishman visiting
these shores for the first time, after
having grappled with the poser, What
do you think of America? is, Do you
find much difference in the dialects of
the two countries7 That there is a
difference nobody will deny; but
among the refined clas in New
York, apart from certain local express
ions, it is far less noticeable than
would have been expected. The first
thing that would strike Londoner is
probably the lazy, familiar "Ye-ah" by
which you are answered on all sides
by persons from uhom, in England,
you would expect "Yes, sir" while
"See here" is also peculiarly American.
If the person you are addressing does
not catch your remark, he will startle
you with "What's that" "What is it,
or "How?" when IN England he is ac-
customed to "What?' "EhY' or "Beg
pardon?' under similar circumstances.
There is no exact corresponding ex-
preston in Epglish for "to get left
and "to get there the nearest ap
proach being "to be in the cart" and
'to pull through"
The English never use the words
"previous" or "fresh" GmpudenD,
''rare meat" (underdone), "heshy'
(stoutD, "despatch' (telegram), "fulf'
(tipsy), "homely' (plain, addressed to
persons). An American child will call
her parents mamma and papa, and
will cause shout of laughter or a
shocked look when she speaks of
"bugs" for ordinary insects, this term
being exclusively reserved in England
for the "bed'' species. 1t is hardly
necessary to allude to the use of the
word "guess" (Auglice, 81 fancy or
81 think, as from time immemoral
an Englishman thinks he has only got
to say 81 guess" and talk through his
nose to imagine he is talking "real
good Yankee" Dude is unknown
in England, and no one there would
know what was meant by "dry-goods
store" Qinen-draper's).
Londoners have nothing grander
than "house porter" to correspond to
"janitor," and would possibly be puz-
zled to know what was meant by "a
high-stoop house" or an "English base
ment house, They would also ask
for the 'lift" in place of the elevator
and would think it strange not to have
to go up one flight to the "first" floor,
as in England they are accustomed to
call this latter the aground floor"
Such slangy expressions as "You make
me tired" ITO blow you Off" 81 feel
kinder good" 81 have had real ele
CANT time are Enthusiastically
American.
If you ask an American to take a
drink, he will reply, 81 should smile
the meaning of which is obvious, and
he may possibly offer to give you
points (tips) on some coming race.
The word '.boss" takes the place of our
governor" except when a London
street Arab means to be particularly
polite and to gain your custom for a
box of lights, &C., when nothing under
"capt'n' or "my lord is good enough.
The Americans pride themselves on
speaking very correctly, and certainly
it is only very rarely that one hears an
h dropped or put in the wrong place;
but on the other hand, one constantly
hears "Was you there?' and the use of
the word "everywheres" in its plural
form. On this side they speak of mail
ing for posting letter, and take the
"slage to the depot" in place Of the
omnibus (bus) or trans to the station
or terminus. The word candy III
America seems to cover all kinds of
sweetmeats, which are generally call
ed "sweets" by tie crowd and "sugar-
plums" by the select IN England.
There is corruption of the good old
Scotch word "toffee," used generally
here, viz, ''taffee," and it sounds conf
cal to English ears to ask for piece
of apple-pie in place Of tart, pie being
only used when speaking of meat.